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MINSTER — The Minster boys golf team distanced itself from the rest of the 14-team field to capture the Cardinal Invitational in the comfort of its home course Arrowhead Golf Club on Tuesday.

Minster sophomore Xavier Francis fired a two-over par 74, Freddie Purdy and John Burke each had 78s, and Josh Tumbusch shot an 82 for the Minster team total of 312.

Minster was 10 shots clear of second-place Russia, which shot a 322 on a day of early rain followed by clear, cool conditions.

Head coach Jay Purdy thinks his team has the kind of game to continue the strong run that Minster has put together over the last decade. The Wildcats have won six of the last seven Midwest Athletic Conference titles to go with the 2009 state championship and a run of district appearances.

“This was a great way to start the season,” Purdy said. “We’ve got a lot of talent. Hopefully we can play up to that talent.”

Wapakoneta finished fourth, with Drew Wayman shooting a 79 to lead the Redskins. Bobby Crow shot an 80, Caleb Acheson had an 81 and Josh Apple shot an 89.

New Bremen took sixth with a 339 while doing the hosting duties for the early-season tournament. Darin Bergman led the way with a two-over par 74. Alex Britton shot an 81, Travis Bertelsen had a 90 and Zach Hegemier shot a 94.

St. Marys finished seventh with a 354 team score. Colin Burke’s 79 led the way for the Roughriders. Carter Bowman added an 82, Stephen Axe shot a 92 and Kyle Kiefer had a 101.

St. Marys head coach Scott Ross said this week that his team will need to develop some depth behind his top two golfers in Bowman and Burke, who both played well as freshmen last fall. Bowman

“We’re kind of lopsided this year,” Ross said. “We’ve got two kids who we know what we’re going to get and then we have some guys who we’re hoping can step and and surprise people.”

Axe has played well early, Ross said. “He just started playing last year and he’s got the bug.”

New Knoxville’s Tyler Shreve shot an 80 to lead the Rangers in their 11th-place finish. Jake Allen shot a 95, Michael Porter had a 97 and Brandon Steinke shot a 102.